Finding heat lost when waters of different temps. Are mixed

  • Thread starter Thread starter astru025
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Heat Lost Mixed
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves mixing two equal masses of water at different temperatures in an insulated container and determining the heat lost by the hotter water. The specific temperatures mentioned are 75°C and 25°C, with a final temperature of 50°C.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between temperature change and heat loss, with one questioning how to convert temperature change into calories. Another introduces the relevant equation for calculating heat loss.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided guidance on the specific heat capacity of water and the formula needed to calculate heat loss. There is acknowledgment of the original poster's confusion regarding the conversion of temperature change to energy units.

Contextual Notes

The original poster notes that their textbook lacks detailed mathematical explanations, which may contribute to their uncertainty in applying the relevant equations.

astru025
Messages
163
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



90 grams of water at 75°C are mixed with an equal amount of water at 25°C in a completely insulated container. The final temperature of the water is 50°C. How much heat is lost by the hot water?

Homework Equations



The hot water drops to 50 degrees Celsius so it has lost 25 degrees celsius. My answer needs to be in calories though and I'm not sure where to go from here. How do I get 25 degrees Celsius to calories?

The Attempt at a Solution


My attempt is written above.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Well, the heat lost by the water will be measured in units of energy, not temperature as you may think. Do you remember this guy?

Q=mc_{w}\Delta T
 
You need specific heat capacity of water.SpecificHeat capacity of water is 1 calorie/gram °C.So from this you can work out the heat given out by the hot water as its temperature falls.
 
Okay thank you very much! My book is very light on math/ equations, I had never seen that Q=mcT equation before... I took 1 cal/gram x 90 grams x 25 degrees. I got 2250 cal which proved to be correct! Thanks very much
 

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
848
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
10K
Replies
11
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K